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Henry Frampton (Harry) Clarke

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Henry Frampton (Harry) Clarke
Clarke Henry Frampton.jpg
Western Mail 1 Nov 1918 p.23
Personal Information
Date of Birth c1887
Place of Birth North Adelaide, South Australia
Death 15 Feb 1962, aged 76
Place of Death Manjimup
Age at Enlistment 29 years, 4 months
Description 5'7½" (1.71m) tall ; 138 lbs
62.596 kg
; fair complexion ; grey eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation Horse driver
Religion Church of England
Address c/- Post Office, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Thomas Clarke
Military Information
Reg Number 991
Date of Enlistment 12 Oct 1916
Rank Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation Australian Remount Unit, 4th Squadron / ANZAC Mounted Division
Date of Embarkation 12 Nov 1915 ‒ ?? Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On HMAT A67 Orsova Fremantle to Port Suez
Date of Return 26 Jul 1919 ‒ 22 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On HMT Burma
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel)
Medals 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1909 a butcher in Kelmscott; 1913 a labourer

War Service

Harry's first attempt to enlist was turned down on the grounds that he had insufficient teeth (to be able to masticate the hard biscuits issued). His initial training was with the Remount unit based at Guildford and so it would appear that although he was accepted, he would largely be confined to base area units where his teeth were less of an issue. He did serve for a time with the Australian Remount Unit's 4th Squadron, but his records from arrival in Egypt in Dec 1915 until 28 Oct 1917 are not included with the rest of his records in the National Archives. The remount unit was responsible for maintaining horse numbers in active units, looking after ill or worn out horses, and sourcing new mounts for the active units.

On 28 Oct 1917 Harry was detached to the Australian Field Remount Section in Rafa, returning to his parent unit in Moascar on 14 Nov 1917. On 17 Jan 1918 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and on 16 Sep 1918 he was posted to the Field Remount Section at Ludd (Lod) in Palestine. On 30 Oct 1918 he appears to be with his unit at Jerico, and on 6 Jan 1919 he was a member of a draft of men sent from Jerico to Moascar to prepare for their return to Australia.

Boarding the ship at Kantara, Harry was one of only six WA men to arrive home on the HMT Burma which stopped over in Colombo for a day with some of the men taking up an offer for a sightseeing trip to Kandy. Henry was discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Oct 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 with wife Mary Ethel in Kelmscott - a dairy farmer; 1931 - 1958 a group settler at "Group 83 Appadene" Manjimup. 1963 and 1968 Mary by herself at No. 4 Dunreath Cottages, Manjimup. Mary died 14 Apr 1971 aged 81.

Son Cpl Thomas Henry Edward Clarke WX26745 44th Battalion AIF died 12 Apr 1944 aged 22. Buried Atherton War Cemetery. Other children were Jack, Doreen, Ben and Nellie. Harry is buried in the Manjimup cemetery.

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